THE HON. GREG COMBET AM MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
SHAYNE NEUMANN MP
Federal Member for Blair
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
101/2009
C-17 HEAVY AIRLIFTER SIMULATOR DELIVERED
Greg Combet, the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, and
Shayne Neumann, the Federal Member for Blair, announced today that the Royal
Australian Air Force (RAAF) will benefit from the achievement of a major training
milestone for Australia’s C-17 Heavy Airlift Capability.
“The C-17 Simulator commissioning marks the start of aircrew training in Australia.
From January 2010, RAAF C-17 pilots will undertake their training at Amberley
instead of travelling to the United States (US),” said Mr Combet.
“The attainment of the C-17 simulator is another successful outcome for the C-17
Heavy Air Lift Project and further testimony to the cooperative relationship between
the Department of Defence, the United States Air Force and its contractors.”
The Federal Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann, attended the ceremony accepting
the simulator at RAAF Base Amberley.
“We are very proud as locals that the C-17 simulator will provide training outcomes
which greatly enhance the support to Australian Defence Force operations and
humanitarian relief efforts being provided by the RAAF C-17 fleet,” said Mr
Neumann.
“The Simulator is a replica of the C-17 cockpit and provides realistic training
conditions for all C-17 missions. Operational conditions can be generated at a wide
variety of airfields in Australia and overseas,” said Mr Combet.
The Boeing Company built the Simulator in the US and installed it in the purpose-
built facility at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland, constructed by John Holland
Group. The Simulator itself was transported to Amberley using two C-17 aircraft.
The Simulator is the centerpiece of the C-17 Training System. The complete system
includes a Maintenance Trainer to be delivered in 2010 and a Cargo Compartment
Trainer to be delivered in 2013. Australia is the only foreign C-17 operator to own a
Simulator. The other 20 Simulators are owned and operated by the United States
Air Force.
Media contacts:
Rod Hilton (Greg Combet):
02 6277 7620 or 0458 276 619
Jessica Hill (Shayne Neumann)
0488 076 420
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
